TABLE 2: MAIN DEFECTS REPORTED DURING AND AFTER PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
OBSERVED MISTAKE SOURCE OF THE MISTAKE CONSEQUENCE Wrong type of pump The designer designs the solar system as a standard pump system
(with generator), and simply indicates in the specifications that the
source must be solar.
System underperformance.
Equipment supplied does not conform to
solar pumping requirements.
Absence of a pump controller Some pumps are powered by DC and can therefore be powered
directly by the panels without conversion. But the controller is
sometimes forgotten or willingly not installed.
Excessive wear of equipment (mainly
pump).
Power supply of the pump from an inverter designed for buildings, producing 220V – 50Hz The pump can only run at maximum power. When there is not
enough sun for the pump to run at maximum power, the pump
will not start.
The system does not work in low
luminosity (morning / evening / cloudy
days). Loss of more than 50% of the
pumping potential.
Use of batteries to ensure pumping by night or when luminosity is too low Installation of an inverter designed to power buildings instead of
pump systems (see above).
Unnecessary addition of equipment,
expensive to renew, and pollutant at
End-of-Life. If there is need for water
beyond sunlight hours, store the water in
a water tower.
Under sizing of solar array The supplier is asked for a specific performance (a daily flow and
a total head); he offers an adequate pump but an insufficient and
unverified number of panels.
The pump runs at low speed, and the
expected performance is not achieved.
